NewArts Announces Its Summer 2016 Season: Featuring Nearly 200 Newtown Area Children

NewArts, a nonprofit theatrical production organization in Newtown, CT, is producing its sixth and seventh shows for its summer, 2016 season incorporating nearly 200 children from the Newtown area onstage, backstage and in the orchestra as a continuation of its mission to use the performing arts to promote healing and strength. NewArts was founded by local parent, Michael Baroody, M.D. and brings in a talented team of nearly 20 theatre professionals including Broadway-level directors, choreographers, music directors, designers, producers, and technicians to guide the children in this endeavor of creativity, collaboration and community.

The first show, School of Rock, Youth Production, is the newly released for licensing version of the hit Broadway show currently running at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan. The NewArts performance will feature Dante Melucci, the original child actor drummer "Freddie" from the Broadway production, in the orchestra. The show will be performed on August 5 th at 7PM, August 6 th at 2PM and 7PM and August 7 th at 3PM. The show is directed by Michael Unger with choreography by Tara Jeanne Vallee and music direction by Jeffrey Saver. Scenic Design is by Brian Prather, Costume Design is by Caitlin Brown, Lighting Design is by G. Benjamin Swope with Sound Design by David Bullard.

The second production is the classic The Wizard of Oz, featuring two casts ("Tornado" and "Twister"). The "Tornado" cast will perform August 11 th at 7PM, August 13 th at 7PM and August 14 th at 2:30PM. The "Twister" cast will perform August 12 th at 7PM, August 13 th at 2PM and August 14 th at 7:30PM. The show is directed by Michael Unger with choreography by Abbey O'Brien and music direction by Jeffrey Saver. Scenic Design is by Brian Prather, Costume Design is by Kristina Sneshkoff, Lighting Design is by Newtown local, Mitchell Girgasky (mentored by G. Benjamin Swope) with Sound Design by Newtown local, Sean Sonntag (mentored by David Bullard).

For both shows, Production Management is by Jared Beaulieu, Samantha Flint is the Production Stage Manager, Van Dean is production consultant and NewArts founder, Michael Baroody, M.D., is executive producer.

The venue for both productions is Walnut Hill Community Church (156 Walnut Hill Rd, Bethel, CT 06801) and ticket prices range from $17.50 to $27.50. For more information on the summer season of shows, please visit http://www.newarts.org/summer2016/.

"The participating children will be entertaining the community with a Broadway- quality performance, but more importantly, throughout the rehearsal process, they are learning how to overcome obstacles, face their fears and realize the best versions of themselves." Michael Baroody, MD, Founder of NewArts and the 12.14 Foundation

NewArts (the theatrical production entity of the 12.14 Foundation) is a non-for- profit organization formed by a local parent following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 to encourage personal development through high-level performing arts programs. The Foundation provides experiences that produce a long-lasting, positive affect on the way children see themselves and the world around them. NewArts has produced five critically-acclaimed, large-scale musicals over the past three years, involving hundreds of local participants. This summer the Foundation is staging its sixth and seventh musicals: School of Rock, Youth Production and The Wizard of Oz. In December 2016 the Foundation will debut its first winter production, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, created by a Tony Award-winning team, direct from the successful 16-year run at the Tony-winning McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ.

The making of a previous NewArts production, A Rockin' Midsummer Night's Dream, was recently featured in the documentary film, "Midsummer in Newtown," which premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival and was chosen for the prestigious Spotlight Selection. The album for A ROCKIN' Midsummer Night's Dream is currently available on Broadway Records.

For more information, please visit www.newarts.org

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